Emily, Elijah, Alec, Aaron and their classmates are cyber school students who gather daily in a classroom, in a school building, with a school nurse down the hall, and a bring-your-own-lunch period, and a teacher, Leah Smyda.

John Doncevic of Ambridge, waiting for his son Elijah at the end of the school day, said he's not often quizzed about the irony of a cyber school child who goes to school.

"Nobody says much about it," he said.

Education in Pennsylvania, with technological advances and financial challenges escalating, is evolving rapidly. As public school officials consider cyber options, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School administrators wondered whether they needed to provide a bricks-and-mortar option for their youngest students.

For the 2010-2011 school year, PA Cyber rented the former Mount Gallitzin building from the Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden and launched a pilot program for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten pupils called Building Blocks.

The Building Blocks program offers parents a "build your day" menu. "Come be part of the day, all day, some days or every day, your choice," the literature says. In addition to the specials, offered on select days, there are daily reading and math programs, and a story time.

Craig Jeffers, assistant director of elementary education for PA Cyber, said the program draws more than 50 youngsters each week. He said administrators recently committed to continuing the program next year and, if supported by enrollment, will expand it to include a first-grade class.

PA Cyber will host an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. March 31 at the Mount Gallitzin building at 1016 West State St. in Baden. Advance registration is suggested at (724) 643-1180.

Andrea Kirkhan, a Center Township resident whose son Oliver attends the pre-kindergarten classes, has embraced the program and its flexible menu.

"I want (Oliver) to be with kids his age at least part of the time," Kirkhan said. "(Oliver) is at school here two days a week, and he does his work at home three days a week. It's nice to have the choice. We'll stay as long as PA Cyber keeps the program going."

Parents have a variety of reasons for sending their cyber kids to school.

John Doncevic likes the small class sizes and the technology options, which include interactive white boards, laptops and iPads.

"We felt like this would give him a good foundation in technology," he said.

Elijah Doncevic likes to do math problems on his iPad. In the classroom, he traced the on-screen problem (6 + 2) with his finger, and then answered by choosing 8 from an on-screen keyboard.

"It's easy for me, and I like it," he said.

Lisa Listorti of Baden, whose son Nicholas is enrolled in the pre-kindergarten program, liked the small classes and the opportunity for her son to gain confidence in a social setting.

"The teaching staff is very energetic, very attentive," Listorti said. "Nicholas was definitely afraid. He didn't want to leave mommy. But they spent time with him. They comforted him and made him feel relaxed ... now he wants to come every day. Even if he has a cold, he wants to come to school."

Alex Fustich, despite the pain-inducing exercises, has similar feelings for the school: "I've only missed one day," he said.

Mike Buchanan of Aliquippa, whose daughter Allyson attends the pre-kindergarten classes, said Allyson "wants to come every day, even on weekends. We feel this has definitely prepared her to take the next step to kindergarten."

PA Cyber officials are not concerned that they may be producing a group of children who have learned to love a real school more than a cyber school.

"The most important thing is that we help them build a foundation that prepares them for the future," Jeffers said. "We want to make them want to learn, give them the skills to learn and make learning a positive experience for them."

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